Coin controlled mechanism



May 19, 1936. F. c. Du GRENIER 2,040,983

COINV CONTROLLED MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 5, 1955' s'shets-sheet 1 May 19,1936.

- F. C. DU GRENIER COIN coNTRoLLED MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet'. 2

Filed Feb. 5, 1935 Jnberzo'rf. M

@CHM

MRY 19, 1936. F. c. Du GRENIER 2,040,983

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Y Filed Feb. 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3'zverloi".

Patented May 19, 19365.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE f ammetteV com coN'rRoLLEn-MECHANISM FrancisC. Du Grenier, Haverhill, Mass., assignon to Blanche E. Bouchard,Haverhill, Mass'.

Application February 5,1935, Serial No. 5,009

s claims. (01.194-93) This invention relates to coin controlled apparatus for vending machines, and more particularly to mechanism of thetype which acts to release the dispensing mechanism when a plurality ofcoins have been inserted, the denominations of which are equal to acertain amount, as, for example, three nickels, or a nickel and a dime.'I'he objects of my invention are to provide a simple and effective coincontrolled releasing mechanism, in which the dispensing mechanism willbe released when three nickels, or when one nickel and a dime have beenplaced therein, and

in which, if one nickel and a dime have been placed therein and then anadditional nickel is inserted,

the latter will immediately be returned, or if two or three nickels havebeen inserted and then a dime is inserted, the nickels in excess ofone'will be returned. Also to provide means whereby, if an attempt ismade to have the coins restored after the dispensing operation has beenadvanced sumciently to release the same, such attempts will befrustrated and the dispensing operation '30 and the other of which isheld ln its inoperative position either by the third nickel inserted, orby a dime when inserted. Also by providing an auxiliary coin-holdingdevice which is arranged normally to hold the second and third nickel inposition, but which is moved to an inoperative position upon theinsertion of a dime, so that anyv nickels which are, or havebeeninserted, in addition to the first nickel, will be returned if, or

when a'. dime is inserted.' Also by providing an auxiliary coinretaining device which is moved into operative'position bythe dispensingmechanism, when moved initially, and before the coins pass into thereceiving chamber, so that, if -it is attempted to dislodgeA the coinretaining means which is controlled by the dime, the attemptwill beunsuccessful.

For a morecomplete and detailed disclosure ol my invention, referenceisnow made to the following specication in connection with th'eaccompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the.l coin-controlledV mechanismembodying my invention, which is mounted on the right hand end of the lCasin-8- Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof at line 2 2 o1' Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views at lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, ofFig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 4, showing the parts indifferent positions.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view at line 6--6 of Fig. 4. l l

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the enclosing cabinet.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view at line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Y

Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of the two locking levers. I l

As is customary in machines of this character, the machine proper isenclosed in a cabinet, as I0, at the front of which a series of pullhands I2 protrude, whereby, when any one of them is pulled out, apackage will be dispensed from the stack of packages in the rear thereofand delivered to L shelf I3. As indicated in Fig. 3, a crank shaft I4 isjournaled at its ends in the end -frames I5 of the machine, and a.finger, as I6, depends from each p ull handle and engages the crankportion of shaft I4, so that, when any one of the handles is pulled out,theshaft I4 Vwill be oscillated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. l,and will be returned to its initial position when the handle is drawnback. The end portion of shaft I4 extends I8 is secured thereon, so thatthe shaft may be rotated sufficiently to permit a dispensing operationonly when the cam I8 is free to move therewith.

According to my Y invention, the particular means employed to lock theshaft against operative movement consists of a pairA of locking levers20 and. 22, which are arranged side by side in proxmityandvmounted on apivot 24 at their upper ends. Each lever has a friction roll 2I, 23 atits lower end, which is arranged in rolling contact with the outer sideof cam I8, and coil springs 26, 21 are connected to said levers 20, 22respectively, and-tend to swing the same in the direction to hold thefriction rolls thereon in contact with the surface of the cam I8. In theinitial position of the parts, projections 28, 30 on cam I8 engage rolls2I, 23, holding springs 26, 21 under tension, as shown in Figs. l and 8,but, on a slight forward movement of cam I8, caused by pulling out anyone of the handles I2, either, or both levers 20, 22 will be swunginward, so that the rolls 2 I 23 thereon will be engaged by abutments3|, 33 on the cam, as shown in Fig. 3, positively locking .the machineagainst further operation by the coins in the machine, and as thepresent invention' in no way relates to any coin detecting operations,means of that character are not shown.

In the present instance the machine is designed to be operated toperform the dispensing operation after three nickels, or one nickel andone dime have been inserted, and, alter acceptance by the coin testingmeans, the nickels fall ,down a passage 34 and the dimes down a passage35, and the tlrst nickel inserted 'and the dime come to rest 'on the topside of'a projection, or coin-support 38 .formed on the peripheralportion of cam I8, and

areretained in this position by a nger 38 on the innerv end of a pushrod 39, as shown in Figs. l, 4,

6, 8 vand 9, sothat, when the handle at the outer end of rod` 39' ispushed inward, the coins supported on projection 36 will roll therefromand fall into the'coin return passage 40 and be delivered to the shelfI3. If two additional nickels have been inserted, they will be supportededge to edge on the one rst inserted, one above the other, as shown inFig. 6, so that if the rod 39 is moved inward they will also berestored.Also ii more than three nickels are inserted, or more than one dime isinserted, the additional coins will merely strike the top nickel, or thedime and immediately roll into the return passage, as shown in Fig. 6.

As shown in Fig. 9, when the bottom nickel and l the dime\ar held on thesupport 38 and retained thereon by finger 38, the dime will be heldsmewhat oi! center with relation to the nickel, so that it only partlyoverlaps the same. The lever 20 is provided with a nger 42, which isarranged in position to engage the portion ofthe nickel which is notoverlapped by the dime, when both are sustained on support 38, as shownin Figs. 4, 6, 8 and 9, so that when cam I8 is rotated, so that itsprojection 28 is carried-out of engagement with the roll 2|, lever 20will be swung inward by its spring 2'6 until nger 42 engages the'side ofthe nickel, thereby preventing lever 20 from swinging inwardsuiliciently to engage abutment 3|, and holding the same in the positionof Fig. 4, so that,- as the cam I8 rotates, the roll 2| may engage theinclined top portion of abutment 3|, and may ride upon the outer side ofcam I8, and thus will be inoperative to preventthe dispensing-operation.The lever 22 also has a nger 44, which operates in a similar manner tohold lever 22 in an inoperative position'by engagement with one side oithe Mhirdnickel Which is' inserted, as indicated inf oFig., 6, so thatwhen three nickels have beenins serted both locking levers will beheldin their inoperative positions and the dispensing opera.-y tion will bepermitted.

'I'he lever 22 is also provided with a iinger 4l,

which is arranged in-position to engage the dime when lheld in positionon support 38, shown in Figs. 6 and 9, so that if a nickel and a dimehave been inserted both making levers will be heldin their inoperativepositions, permitting the dispensing operation to be performed, and inall instances when movement of cam I8 is permitted, beyond the pointwhere it would be locked, support 38 is moved from beneath the coinssupported thereon, so that they will fall into the money box. As thelocking levers 2n, 22 press the coins rmly ytion st which they may beengaged against the sides of the coin passages, they would not bereleased when the support 33 is moved vi'rom beneath them it thispressm'e were not removed.

- The cam I8 is therefore arranged to press the the machine, a dime isinserted, which consists of a latch, orv dog 48, which is arranged toswing freely on a pivot 41 and which is provided with a nger 48 vat anintermediate'-point thereon, which normally extends in a position toengage ythe edge of the second nickel in the rearthereof, so that, undernormal conditions, .shownK in Figs. 3, 4, and 5,'-it will hold thenickel in the i position oi Fig. 6and prevent the same from falling intothe-returnpassage 48, but if withdrawn i'rom thisposition will permitthis nickel, and,

if a third nickel is supported thereon, both lto pass into the returnpassage. A nger 58 is formed on the lower end of dog 46 and normally'extends into the dime passage 35 a short distance above the point wherethe dime is held by support 36, the edge of lsaid nger yhaving aninclined face 5I, so arranged that Ait faces upward in position to beengaged by the dime, as it i'alls into position, thereby causing the dogto be swung to the position of Fig. 8, and, at the same time,

. withdrawing nger 48 irom the position in which it retains the secondnickel in its passage, so that, when a dime falls into position, ifv asecond nickel is. or has been inserted, the latter will immediately berestored, and, if a third nickel has been inserted, it will also berestored.

, It has been ascertained, however, that. on account oi! the fact thatdog 43 can be moved out of its intercepting position by as slight aforce ras the impact of a falling dime, it is possible, by subjectingthe machine to Aa, somewhat violent jarring action, as byv striking it asharp blow, to cause the dog 46 to be swung back to its inoperativeposition. This fact is of no consequence if the dispensing operationhasnot beenl started,

. as the second and ithird nickels will merely be returned and it willnot then be possible to operate the machine without' returning them, but

itis necessary'toprovide a short period between the point when the camIl ha's been moved to a point where the locking lever will no longexintercept its movement and the point where thev coins are dumped fromsupport 38 into the money box, so that if the'casingwere struck a sharpblow whileV the cam is held in this position,ltwo ot the nickels wouldfall into the return passage, and then thev operator could continue theoperation and secure-'apackage ri'or a single'nickel.

Machines vof `this character are usually4 provided .with so-calledscavenger means, which operates to liberate and return all defectivecoins or slugs which have been intercepted by the/com tester. k

In the present instance the lever -82 ounted o n pivot 53, performs thisfunction' said lever having a roll 84 at its lower end, which engages acam lace on cam |8,and is moved to perform its normal functions, (suchmeans not being shown -in the present instance), before the cam I8 ismoved to the point where it will be` released by levers 28, 22. Saidlever 82 is provided with a nnger 55 at its upper end. see Figs. l and2, which delivered to the money box, the ilnger 55 willA f dimensions ofthe coins which are i l l Y,oaops'a' l 3 Yis inoperative when'the partsare in vtheir initial position, but which, immediately on the initialmovementA of cam I8, is moved inward to a` position side by' sidev withnger of vdog 46, as indicated in Fig. 6. Consequently if the dog 4B isdislodged in any way after the disepnsing operation has been started andbefore the coins are prevent the discharge of any ofthe coinsv into thereturn passage, so that they bea discharged into the money box. 1

Y 'I'he above described construction .is primarily advantageous onaccount of the simplicity and durability of its parts and the factthatthe action is positive and in no way dependent on the nserted, thelatter having previously been thoroughly tested beiore they-reach theposition in which they act to permit operation of the dispensing means.

It will be apparent 'that the above described mechanismis not limited touse in connection with v the particular coins' referred to, as variousother combinations of coins than those referred to may '25 Vbe employedpractically without modioation.

'I claim:

1. In `a coin-controlled dispensing machine having a pair of coinpassages for coins of diil'erent denominations', means for supporting acoin in one of said passages and for supporting a plurality of coinsedgeto edge one above another in the other passage, whereby all of saidcoins `will be held in predeterminedpositio'ns, operating devicesmovable to perform a dispensingperation including a controlling devicewhich is movable therewith from aninitial position, a pair of lockingdevices arranged to be held in inoperative positions by said controllingdevice when in its initial position, means to movesaid locking de vicesinto positions to lock said controlling device when moved from itsinitial position, means on one of said locking devices arranged toengage the lowermost coin of said plurality of coins, and on the otherof said locking devices to engage the top-mostcoin thereof and thesingle -coin when held in the other passage in said positions, to holdsaid locking devices in their inoperative positions when the requisitenumber of coins have been placed in one passage, or a single coin has Vbeen placed in both passages, to. permit movement of said controllingdevice beyond the pofsition where it may be locked, so that-thedispensing operation may be performed. l 2. A coin-controlled dispensingmachine having a coin passage and supporting means for holding a coin ina predetermined position thereon, operating devices movable to perform adispensing operation, a rotatably mounted cam mov- 'to locking position,and means on said cam arranged, whenmoved beyond a position inwhich itmay be locked, to disengage said 'locking de- 'vice from'the coin andpermit deliverythereof from ,said supporting means.

3. A com-controlled dispensing machine having a coin passage andoperating-devicesmovable to' perform a dispensing operation, acontrolling 'device movable from anl initial position by said operatingdevices when moved operatively, a support on said controlling device andmeans lfor holding a coin delivered to said passage in a predeterminedposition thereinfa locking device, a

spring arranged to move saidllocking device to ltrolling device is movedfrom initial position,

whereby a coin on said support may hold the locking device againstmovement to its locking position, and means on said" controlling devicefor disengaging said locking device from the coin when ithas been movedbeyond the position at s which it may be locked, said support beingarranged to be simultaneously moved from its coin supporting position.'Av l 4. In a coin-controlled dispensing machine second passage for coinsof another denomination and means arranged to support a single cointherein, and a coin return passage, operating devices movable toperform' a dispensing operation,

a controlling device movable from an initial pov sition by saidoperating deviceswhen moved operatively, locking devices normally heldin an inhaving a passage for coins of one denomination and means tosupport a plurality ofcoins therein edge to edge one above another, andhaving a operative position by said controlling device when `'in itsinitial position and having means for mov- Y ing the Asame to lock saidoperating devices on operative movement thereof, meanson said lockingdevices forvengagement with the lowermost and the top-most coins in saidfirst named DBS-138 and with the coin in the other passage. to hold saidlocking devices in inoperative position, and a latch havingA means toprevent the `second coin in the iirst named passage from passing intosaid return'passage, said latch being arranged to be engaged by a coinplaced in the other passage and to be moved thereby into position topermit said second coin to pass into said rev turn passage.

5. In a coin-controlled dispensing machine' having a passage for coinsof one denomination and means to support a plurality of coins there-- inedge to edge one above another, and having a second passage for coins of.another denomlnation and means arranged to support a single cointherein, and a coin return passage, operating devices movable to performa ldispensing operation, a controlling device movable from an initialposition by said operating devices when moved operatively, lockingdevices normally heldin an in- A operative position by said controllingdevice when. in its initial position and having means for moving thesame to lock said operating devices on operative movement thereof, meanson said locking devices for engagementwith the lowermost vand thetop-most coins in said ilrst named passage 'and with the coin in the`other passage, to f hold saidlocking devices in inoperative position, c

and a vpivotally suspended latch having a. vnger normally in position toprevent dellveryof the coins above the lowest coin in the r'st namedpassage to said return pe and having an inclined face arranged tobeengaged by a'coin placed in the second named coinpasandmeanstosuppoitaplurality'ofocinstherein edge to edge one above andhaving 'a second passage for ccinsof another denominationandmeansarranzedtosupportasinlleeoin therein. and .,a coin returnpassais. operating devices movable to'periorm a dispensing operation.

a controllingv device movable from an initial 4position by saidcperatinx devices when moved op erativelxlcckinldevices normally heldinan 1li me devices for engouement with the iowermost 9,040,933 havina'apascale for ocins of on'e denoniination` .j ecinsisaidilrstnamedpaacoinin the other passage, to

top-'most N6 and with the hold said lockimr devices in inoperativeposition',l

a pivotally suspended latch having a finger -normallyextendinginposition to prevent delivery of the coins above the lowestcoin in the'flrst named passage to'said'return passage and having meansarranged to be engaged by a coin placed in said second latchfto withdrawits miser to an yinoperative position and normally inoperative meansarranxed to supplementthe action 'of said iinger and movable intooperative position by said operatins deviees onjinitial movementthereof.

' FRANCIS C. DU GRENIER.

named coin passage tov move -said

